Coupling wrench



Filed Sept. 5, 1965 INVENTOR NATHAN M. POLLACK ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,175,435 CDUPLING WRENCH Nathan M. Pollack, New London Turnpike, Marlborough, Conn. Filed Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 306,834 Claims. (Cl. 81-121) This invention relates to a coupling wrench, more particularly it relates to a captive coupling wrench characterized by a construction which permits the coupling and decoupling of a pressure connection in a rapid and facile manner; and more specifically it relates to a coupling wrench characterized by an O-ring detent which serves to retain the wrench axially positioned on a coupling memher.

The present invention finds utility in installations where a refillable pressurized fluid tank is to be connected to a point of use. In that the line from an exhausted tank must be disconnected from the lines leading to a point of use topermit the connection to the point of use of a fresh tank, it is desirable and in some instances, such as in a hospital where oxygen tanks must be changed often, mandatory that the decoupling of an exhausted tank output line from the line leading to the point of use line and the coupling to the line leading to a point of use of a fresh tank output line be effected in as short a time as possible.

Connections between supply and point of activity or use lines are generally effected by coupling nuts loosely rotatably mounted about the flanged end of lines leading to a point of use whereby the nut may be threaded onto the terminal portion of a tank supply output line; one or the other of the line ends being provided with fluid seals which are adapted to be compressed between the line ends to effect a seal.

In the prior art coupling nuts have been integrally formed with circular flanges which are adapted to be grasped and turned to effect connections and disconnections. Investigation has revealed that the torques necessary to break the sealed connections are difficult to apply with this type of tool. Captive, handle wrenches have like wise been proposed but these, like free wrenches, provided the latter have not been misplaced or lost, require axial manipulation to place the wrench over the coupling nut, and where persons are unskilled in their use, e.g. nurses, such manipulation is time consuming.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a captive wrench which may be mounted on a coupling nut. The wrench is characterized by a novel O-ring supporting structure whereby when the wrench receives the coupling nut an O-ring resiliently connects the wrench and coupling nut restraining the wrench from moving axially off the nut. The arrangement ofthe O-ring and supporting structure is such, as will hereinafter appear, that the wrench may be mounted on or removed from the coupling nut in a facile manner without Wear on the O-ring. Further the wrench is provided with a plurality of radiating handles which permit the application of high torques to break the connection and thereafter permit the wrench and nut to be rapidly spun to threadedly disengage it from the supply line.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved captive coupling wrench to facilitate the rapid connection and disconnection of pressurized fluid carrying lines.

Another object of the invention is in the provision of a captive coupling wrench adapted to be easily detentably mounted on or removed from a coupling nut and maintained in operative position relative to the coupling nut during use.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same be- 3,175,435 Patented Mar. 30, 1965 "Ice comes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partly sectioned elevational view showing the couplingwrench of the invention mounted on a coupling nut connecting tank supplyand use lines;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the structural details of the coupling wrench and a coupling nut; 7

FIGURE 3 is a partial front view of a modified cou pling wrench; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view pling wrench. l

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding: par-ts throughout the several views there is shown in FIGURE 1 a supply tank 10 containing, for example, acompressed gas such as oxygen. i

Threadedly secured in the top end of the supply tank is a valve body generally designated by reference numeral 11 containing a valve under the control of a handlelZ to open or close passages connecting the interior of .the tank to an output line 13. The terminaldpor-tion of the output line is threaded and the end face of the line is provided with a radially inwardly directed flange 1.4 so that when an internally threaded coupling nut 15 is threaded onto the threaded portion of the output line the flange will compress a caged O-ring 16. H

As viewed in FIGURE 1 the right end of the coupling nut 15 is provided with a radially inwardly directed flange 17 which captures the radially outwardly directed flange 18 on the end of a line 21 leading to a point of use. As viewed in the FIGURE 1 the flanged end of the line 21 is provided with an axially extending cylindrical portion 22 having a peripheral retainer channel 23 which forms the inner cage of the-O- ring; the outer cage comprising a ring 24 whose inner surface is channelled to retain the outer circumference of the O-ring therebyforrning the outer element of the caged 'O-ring structure. As noted in the figure a portion of the body of theO-ring extends axially to either side of the cage elements 22 and24 so that when the coupling is threaded on the supply line the O-ring 16 is compressed and pressure seals the lines 13 and 21. This caged O-ring seal is more particularly described and claimed in applicants copending application SerialNo. 237,943 filed November;l6, 19 62. v A

With reference to FIGURE 2 the coupling nut 15 has a polygonal outer surface and is provided toward its left end with an annular peripheral groove 25.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2 there is shown ,a cast aluminum coupling wrench generally designated by reference numeral 26 adapted to lac-mounted on the coupling nut 15 and to threadedly rotateit relative to the supply line 13. The wrench comprises a hollow hub 27 whose inner surface configuration is complementary to the configuration of the outer surface of the coupling nut 15 whereby it may telescopically recieve the nut. The hub 26 is provided with a plurality of radially outwardly extending handle spokes 28 which are angularly directed to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1 to provide clearance between their extremities and the valve handle 12.

The left end of the hub as viewed in FIGURE 1 is formed with a partially cylindrical axial extension 32 covering an are on the order of degrees or better; the inner surface of the extension being coextensive with the polygonal inner surface of the hub. The periphery of the projection is formed to define a semi-cylindrical channel 33 adapted to retain a resilient detent O-ring 34 whose inside diameter is slightly less than the diameter of the groove in the coupling nut 15. As shown in FIGURE 2 when the detent ring is mounted in the channel 33 of of the modified con the projection it normally drapes across the ends of the semi-circular extension and the open end of the hub.

To mount the wrench 26 on the coupling nut it is telescoped over the coupling nut and the draped portion 35 of the detent ring is stretched and rolled as by finger pressure over the edge of the coupling nut and into the groove thereby resiliently coupling the wrench and nut together and against relative axial movement as shown in FIGURE 1. The reverse of the above procedure releases the Wrench and nut.

Once mounted the wrench 26 may be rapidly spun to threadedly engage the nut with line 13 and thereby effect a pressure sealed connection. The spokes 23 may be grasped by both hands to break the connection and then may be spun to threadedly disengage the nut 15 and line 13. p A modification of the coupling wrench is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. This modification differs from that of FIGURE 2 in that an arcuate depression 36 is formed on the outer periphery of the hub opposite the channelled extension 32 whereby, prior to mounting the wrench to nut, the free portion of the detent ring may be stretched and rolled over a lip 37 formed by and into the arcuate depression 36. As noted in FIGURE 3 this maintains the hub opening free so that it may be telescoped over the nut without impediment by the detent ring 34, after which it may be rolled out of the arcuate depression 36 and into the groove 25 in the nut.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A box wrench adapted to rotate a coupling nut comprising a hollow hub and at least one handle radiating from said hub, said hub having an internal configuration complementary to the outer configuration of a coupling nut,

a partial cylindrical projection extending axially from one end face of said hub, the internal configuration of said projection being coextensive with the internal configuration of said hub,

and a resilient member mounted on said projection normally extending across the opening of said hub and adapted to be stretched to partially encircle the periphery of said coupling nut to thereby resiliently couple said wrench and nut after said coupling nut is telescopically received within said hub.

2. A coupling nut wrench comprising a hollow hub portion and a plurality of handles radiating from said hub, said hub portion having an internal configuration complementary to the outer configuration of a coupling nut,

a partial cylindrical projection extending axially from one end face of said hub, the internal configuration of said projection being coextensive with the internal configuration of said hub,

an annular channel formed in the outer periphery of said projection, and a resilient O-ring partially retain'ed in said channel having a diameter such that the free portion not coextensive with the annular channel extends across the hub opening, said ring being adapted to be stretched so as thereby to encircle both said coupling nut and Wrench after said coupling nut is telescopically received within said hub.

3. The combination with a polygonal coupling nut having an annular peripheral groove adjacent one end, of a Wrench adapted to rotate said coupling nut, said wrench having a hollow hub portion with an internal configuration corresponding to the external configurationv of said coupling nut,

a substantially semi-cylindrical axial extension at one end of said hub portion,

an annular peripheral channel in said axial extension,

and a resilient Q-ring fitted into and retained by said channel, the section of said 0-ring not coextensive with said channel being adapted to fit Within the groove of said coupling nut thereby to axially posh tion and retain said wrench on said coupling nut.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 further comprising an arcuate depression in said hub opposite said semicylindrical extension adapted to hold that section of the O-ring not coextensive with said channel in said depression and beyond the opening in the end of said hub, whereby the coupling nut may be freely received Within said hub and the O-ring thereafter released from said arcuate depression and into the groove in said coupling nut.

5. The combination with a coupling nut having an annular peripheral groove adjacent one end, of a wrench adapted to rotate said coupling nut, said wrench comprising a hollow hub, the internal surfaces of which correspond to the outer peripheral surfaces of said nut, one end of said hub having a substantially semi-cylindrical axial extension,

a peripheral channel formed in said extension,

a resilient O-ring mounted in and retained by said channel, said ring having a diameter such that a free portion normally extends across the ends of said semi-cylindrical extension whereby when said hub is telescopically placed over said nut said free portion of said O-ring may be stretched and placed within the annular groove in said coupling nut thereby to retain said wrench axially positioned on said coupling nut,

and spokes radiating from said hub to facilitate turning said wrench and coupling nut.

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 4/62 Canada. 2/60 France.

Frenzel. Schramm. Nay.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A BOX WRENCH ADAPTED TO ROTATE A COUPLING NUT COMPRISING A HOLLOW HUB AND AT LEAST ONE HANDLE RADIATING FROM SAID HUB, SAID HUB HAVING AN INTERNAL CONFIGURATION COMPLEMENTARY TO THE OUTER CONFIGURATION OF A COUPLING NUT, A PARTIAL CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION EXTENDING AXIALLY FROM ONE END FACE OF SAID HUB, THE INTERNAL CONFIGURATION OF SAID PROJECTION BEING COEXTENSIVE WITH THE INTERNAL CONFIGURATION OF SAID HUB, AND A RESILIENT MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID PROJECTION NORMALLY EXTENDING ACROSS THE OPENING OF SAID HUB AND ADAPTED TO BE STRETCHED TO PARTIALLY ENCIRCLE THE PERIPHERY OF SAID COUPLING NUT TO THEREBY RESILIENTLY COUPLE SAID WRENCH AND NUT AFTER SAID COUPLING NUT IS TELESCOPICALLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID HUB. 